Ahhh, Thanksgiving is almost upon us! 

Thanksgiving is going to look a little different this year with less people traveling and smaller gatherings at the table due to the Coronavirus pandemic that is still sweeping across our country. But that doesn’t mean that Thanksgiving has to be lonely or boring this year; take it from a woman who has lived alone for nearly seven years and hasn’t had a significant other in an equal amount of time (I don’t smell bad, I promise!)

This Thanksgiving, I probably won’t be headed back home to my family’s feast, which is a real let-down because my mom roasts a mean turkey and my father’s stuffing recipe makes grown men weep with joy. Fortunately, I understand that Thanksgiving isn’t just about gaining pounds and passing out on the floor while playing with the nieces and nephews (don’t judge!) Thanksgiving is about reflecting on all of the many joys in my life and taking the time to pause and be grateful. 

In addition to the time I spend in reflection, I will be using the wonderful blessing of technology this Thanksgiving. At my fingertips are video calling apps, text messaging apps, social media, photo sharing sites, online family blogs and, of course, the standard telephone. Thanks to these, I will be connecting with my close family and friends to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and catch up on their gossip. 

There are other ways to keep safe while still connecting with others this holiday season that you and your friends and family can consider as well. Here are just a few ideas based on my own personal experiences:

1. Letters, Cards and Postcards

For a little over one year I lived in Ohio, about an 11-hour drive away from family. During that time my grandmother and I wrote letters back and forth and it is still one of my fondest memories. As artists, we both would sketch in the margins (usually something related to the contents of the letter) and we would send small things like an autumn leaf or a coupon to a fast-food restaurant. I saved all of my letters from her and I recently discovered that she had saved all of mine as well! We wrote to each other more than once each week for over a year! 

Letters are an excellent way to connect with people as writing requires us to more carefully consider what is worth sharing as it takes longer than chatting. Letters and cards also allow us to show our personalities with the style of the card we choose, or the doodles and drawings we include. 

Writing takes a little time so it is a terrific activity for the kids and can be an opportunity to teach them about our mail system, the post office and more! Who knows, maybe your kid will even start collecting stamps! So, if you’re looking for something to do this Thanksgiving that will pass the time while also spreading joy, then grab some colored pencils, paper, stickers, and craft supplies and maybe get to making some cards with the kiddos or writing some personal letters of your own. Have fun picking out your stamps (it’s the best part!)

2. Recipe Share

Despite the fact that I am likely celebrating a solo Thanksgiving, I will still be whipping up a feast (OK, maybe just a large dinner). One way I can do that while connecting with family and friends is to try their recipes this year! I have already asked for tips from my mom to make my turkey, and my dad is sending along his stuffing recipe! This way I save time by skipping the dreaded recipe hunt on Pinterest, and I also know that I am going to love what I make since the recipes are my faves! After I enjoy my dinner I can connect with my mom and dad to discuss how their tips and recipes worked out, and we can laugh about any mistakes I may have made in the process.

I discussed this suggestion with a friend on the phone today and he immediately expressed his desire to ask his mom for her dinner roll recipe this year. I’m sure she’ll love being asked, and this will give them something to discuss in the future (especially if he bombs those rolls!) 

Do you have a favorite recipe that a friend or family member might be open to sharing? Call them up and get to cooking!

3. Cooking “Together”

This Thanksgiving might be the first time some of you try your hand at roasting a bird, mashing potatoes or getting serious about stuffing. Ask your friends if the same is true for them, agree on a specific recipe or two, and meet up virtually via Zoom or another video chat service to make your recipes at the same time! This way, you are following the same recipe and can ask each other for help if one of you is confused about a step or two!

4. Recipe collection

One Christmas I received a really thoughtful gift from my aunts on my father’s side of the family. It was a twelve-month flip calendar that documented the birthdays of every single member of our very large family. Next to each person’s name on their birthday was the name of a recipe. The additional pages of the calendar were actually recipes submitted by family members (generally their favorites). My grandma Lucy’s Pineapple Upside-Down Cake recipe was the winner by a landslide, and I am not the only one in the family who makes it on her birthday, even though she has since passed away.

If calendars and books aren’t your thing, consider sharing recipes in a more personal but equally creative way. Are you an internet geek? Create an organized blog of family recipes and share it via email. Are you the coffee snob of the family? Share your tips for the perfect cup of coffee on a custom-printed mug to gift to your relatives! However you choose do it, I’m sure you will enjoy curating the recipes from family this season and chatting about them together. 

A Black Garlic Thanksgiving

As for Black Garlic North America, we have been celebrating Thanksgiving all week by sharing recipes and black garlic cooking tips for the holiday on our social media channels! Did you watch our Instagram stories recently? Did you see the latest post about black garlic stuffing? In case you missed all the Thanksgiving fun on the socials, we have listed some of the easiest ways to use Black Garlic this Thanksgiving without stressing out! Enjoy!

Black Garlic Bird

Gobble up Black Garlic on the Turkey this Thanksgiving! Whether you are going with a turkey breast or the full bird, try it with our black garlic puree!

1.     Dry the turkey
2.     Rub all over with our Black Garlic Puree
3.     Cook! The color and flavor will be fitting for your feast!

Or, if you’ve got the extra time this year, try this recipe for Roast Turkey Breast with Black Garlic from Laura at Family Spice! 

Easy Peasy Black Garlic Corn

Need a Thanksgiving Side Dish in a snap? 

1.     Heat 3 cups corn on a skillet to get that beautiful color! 
2.     Drizzle corn with olive oil and stir 1/2 - 1 tsp Black Garlic Puree into the hot corn until well-distributed!
3.     Transfer the corn to a hot dish and serve topped with fresh parmesan! Add salt if you please (but I didn’t!)

“Meaty” Meatless Black Garlic Stuffing

Looking for something filling without the meat? Look no further than Black Garlic Stuffing! Whether you are making stuffing from scratch or from a seasoned package like the one pictured, you can’t go wrong with adding black garlic! 

1.     Follow the recipe on the seasoned pack of cubed stuffing, or your own recipe.
2.     Add “meaty” ingredients such as sauteed onions and mushrooms.
3.     Stir in diced black garlic cloves once the stuffing is finished for an umami dish that is sure to disappear quickly (I used seven black garlic cloves for a 14-serving stuffing recipe). 

Since black garlic is ready to eat you can toss it into recipes at the very last second! And black garlic from Black Garlic North America is vegan, natural, gluten-free, preservative-free, Kosher-certified and produced in the USA (we even offer organic black garlic) so practically anyone at the Thanksgiving table should be able to enjoy it!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! 

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